to
observe their presence before I ventured upon speech at all.

"Ha, my masters!" he exclaimed suddenly, rising to peer above the low
breastworks. "What have we here? By my soul, the ball is about to
open, gentlemen; the enemy creeps forward as though uncertain of our
whereabouts, yet hardly as if greatly fearing our numbers. What do you
make of the fellows, Master Benteen?"

"Beyond doubt savages, but not of any tribe within my knowledge."

"Saint Denis! nor mine," he acknowledged gravely, staring at them. "At
this distance they seem to be of strangely whitish skin, and I am not
over pleased with their mode of advance; it has the steadiness of a
drilled column, such as I never before witnessed in Indian campaign.
_Sacre_! note yonder how that tall fellow on the right guides them with
his gestures. They take intervals as firmly as French grenadiers.
Eloise," he turned hastily toward his wife, more tenderness in his
manner than I had ever before remarked, "it is going to be a hard
battle, or I mistake greatly the temper of yonder warriors. Take this
pistol; it is all I have of the kind. I will trust my fortune on the
blade. You know how best to use it should things go wrong with us at
the front."

"I know," she answered calmly, "I have lived all my life within hearing
of Indian tales; yet could I not prove some aid beside you?"

"Nay, little woman; there is scarcely room for three of us to stand at
the wall; we shall fight with freer hand knowing you are safe from
savage blow behind the rock. Come, my lady, it is full time you were
there now."

She shook hands with us in turn, giving to each man a lightsome,
hopeful word ere she drew back out of sight, and never before did I
have such incentive to battle as I read within the depths of her dark
eyes as she came to me the last of all. For a moment after she
regretfully withdrew her hands from my clasp I remained motionless,
absolutely forgetful of all else, until De Noyan's voice, harsh now
with excitement of approaching combat, recalled me to myself and my
post of duty.

"It is time we took our positions, Messieurs," he said, bowing with the
rare French courtesy of battle. "Let Monsieur Cairnes find place upon
my right, while Master Benteen, do you keep the left. It will be
better to crouch low until I speak the word, and then God give you both
strong arms and hearts."

From behind the roughly piled bowlders in my front I had a fair view up
the va